Portlanders

A quote from someone who knows me quite well:  "It cracks me up thinking of you wandering around with hippies and new age organic/sustainable living enthusiasts.  I swear though if you start refusing to shower or shave and start hanging out in trees for extended periods I will be staging an intervention."

It's true, I believe we have found a home in Portland, although I am nowhere near needing an intervention.  Yet.  

The girls are 3 weeks into school and adjusting slowly.  For various reasons we were concerned that the neighborhood school we were zoned for would not meet our needs and we requested transfers that were denied.  It makes for a rocky start, but the girls are optimists at heart and keep plugging away.  They've gotten to ride a school bus for the first time and are making friends in the neighborhood.  We're spending more time outside enjoying all the greenery and fresh air... I had to steal their flip flops and tank tops while they were at school one day and replace them with waterproof hiking boots and Columbia jackets.  

We live an hour from the coast.  It's our favorite place to go.  We've explored Cannon Beach and seen lighthouses, and Haystack Rock Beach (where Goonies was filmed!), and found crabs and starfish.  It's so beautiful.  Yesterday we visited Smuggler's Cove because it sounded like an adventure.  We're searching for second-hand snow gear in anticipation of all the great winter adventures we're going to have soon!  

My job is still going great.  I never thought I'd be a midwife at a birthcenter in Portland, and here I am.  It's so interesting to think about the path that led me here.  

Today was the annual potluck for the midwives and clients.  It was a great time!  Joe met all my midwife-friends for the first time and the girls ran amok.  I've had a part in the births of six babies in Portland so far.  Two of my current clients are Nebraskans.  It's really a small world!  

The girls got their faces painted and had Sprite for the first time in probably 3 months.  It's definitely a different culture out here.  Joe and I were just commenting that we don't even know where Walmart is.  Seriously.  I have a Target within 5 miles, but don't know where Walmart is.  I can count a homeschooling family for every public/private school family I know.  Nobody drinks soda.  Our neighbor asked if the girls could have a popcicle and while I paused trying to decide if I trusted them with drippy pink treats in our neighbor's house, she rushed to explain that they were "whole fruit" with "no added sugar", as if that were the cause of my hesitation!  I felt severely judged last week while Eva and I enjoyed a picnic of McD's nuggets, apple slices and WATER at the park.  But I like it.  I've always been a little on the health-conscious side and fit right it in here.. mostly!!  

Before I say goodbye until the next post in who-knows-how-long... here's an overheard argument between two sisters on the way home today.  

"Baby."
"Buttface"
"I'm not a baby."
"Then I'm not a Buttface."
"Fine.  Then I won't play Dance with you."
"Fine.  Agreed."

Pause

"I actually really wanted to play Dance."
"Me too."
"Friends again?"
"Friends."  

Beach Blogging

I'm on vacation.  The end.  

No, I'm just being silly!  I wouldn't do that!  

I'm way too into descriptions and adjectives to leave it at that.  

We are in CA visiting Joes family.  We have been chillin at Grandmas!  

Watching the hoards of hummingbirds that live in Grandmas tree.

We have visited our friends at Grandmas preschool.

We have been treated with essential oils.

We have built a cardboard shantytown with Auntie Vanessa.

And we've been playing at the beach!!  A lot!  I love vacation.  

Visitors, visitors!

So.  Where were we?  

The weekend before last, the crew and I drove a few hours north to spend an evening with our good friends camping.  

We weren't far from Leavenworth, WA which is a huge touristy place in the mountains.  There were lots of shops, restaurants, places to buy an ice cream cone... And it was Ali's 10th birthday!!

She's such a young lady.  I'm so proud of her... she's our "guinea pig kid" and it's so reassuring that we've all made it this far without any serious issues.  (Hang in there Ali! XOXO). 

So, Leavenworth...  We stopped at the Hat Shop.  

"You saved my life.  I am eternally grateful."  

"Where's Moose?!"

"Party hair!"

"I'm a Who!"  

When sushi bites back... And...

"Haven't seen her."

They're hilarious.  Eva wasn't into the hats, but she WAS into the ice cream!

After a fun sleepover in the cabin (and too much Staw-ber-ita in the hot tub), we had to say goodbye to our dear friends who were headed home to Nebraska.  

We headed home as well, but found ourselves on the outskirts of Seattle and decided to stop for lunch.  I loved sharing a trip down memory lane with my family!  

Pikes Place Market!  

Ivars!

I have such fond memories of eating fish n chips on the pier and watching the seagulls when I was Evas size! 

Eva did not care for my favorite shop.  

"Umm, mom?  You sure this creepy store was your favorite when you were little?"

"Yes, it was one of my favorites."

"Were you freaked out when you used to come here?"

"No.  Are you freaked out?"

"Yep."

Mia thought the 3 headed piglet was awesome and Ali still talks about Sylvester the mummy....  

We grabbed a Starbucks (duh!!) and made our way home.  It was a great weekend off-call!  

It's getting intense!

If I could remember which box I packed the old photo albums in, I would share pictures of a sturdy 2 year old girl juggling a soccer ball.  Ali says soccer is "in her bones".  

This is our first year of "select" soccer and the competition has gotten fierce.  Ali is a very physical player.  I am always proud of her, although I have to remind myself that playing hard soccer doesn't equal poor sportsmanship.  We have done a decent job of raising a gracious athlete, I hope.  We don't suffer her soccer schedule, we really enjoy watching her do what she loves.  She is a firecracker on the field!  

Let me tell you about #27.   #27 decided to take it upon herself to harass and antagonize #79.  She repeatedly got behind Ali and shoved her back, shoulder, side.  I was shocked!  When did this start happening?  Where is the stinking ref??  Right?  Joe told me to simmer down and see how Ali would handle it.  And handle it she did.  She handled it with a bit of sharp elbow and I sank down in my chair a bit afraid of what the other parents were going to say!  And #27 backed off.  

Ali is significantly smaller than the other girls in her age division.  But she is really scrappy.  Like the discreet handful of jersey she has there?  

She takes losses hard and personally.  She is her worst critic and I occasionally have to remind her to leave the game on the field.  I always love her smiles on the sidelines and the high fives and "good game!" that follow us all the way to the car.